My Soverign Loving Lord!

It feels as if it was just last week that I bid farewell to my family, loved one, and friends but in actual fact, it was more than a month ago. How time flies.

Before I left for France, I did not really search for a church in France and wasn't really concerned about which church I would be attending, partly because I was loaded and armed with a fair bit of Bible study material and I thought it would suffice. Even when I got here, I did not really search for a church until one of the guys here told me that there was an English service near base. I did a search on the internet and did find some church with an English service. I noted the address but didn't quite get round to finding out where the place was. But the marvellous thing is that God wasn't just about to let me go on procrastinating. Instead, He intervened by moving our OC to send an email to us inviting us to attend an English service that he was attending! How coincidental was that? I can assure you, it wasn't mere coincidence, but it is the providence and Sovereignty of God displayed!

I pray and hope that this sharing would encourage and remind you that the Only True and Living God is a Sovereign God, the Lord most High, who is in absolute control regardless of the circumstance, situation, spiritual or emotional state you might be in. Not only is He a Sovereign Lord who is above all, He is also a loving God who understands, cares for us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our life. This experience of how God led me to a church here is testimony of it.

The Glory of God

"The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."

-Psa 126:3

"Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations." -1Ch 16:24

The Lord has indeed done great things for me; whereof I am glad. And this entry, just like the rest is to delcare His glory and marvelous works to everyone.

He has graciously seen me through the course and I've finally officially completed my course here as of today. My journey here has not been an easy one. There were many ups and downs but through it all, the God of heaven and earth has seen me through it all. He has upheld me during my lows and given me that quiet, confident assurance that He is sovereign and in abosolute control regardless the situation. When I humble myself and plead with the Lord in times of anxiety, God warms my heart and fills my inner being with a peace that cannot be explained and passeth all understanding. The Lord is indeed the only true and living God who is worthy and greatly to be praised and worshipped.

I joined the airforce with the hope of being a fighter pilot but was not sure what what the will of God is for me. I did pray asking God to deny me the chance to even start a career in the airforce if it is His will not for me to be a fighter pilot in fear that I would face that dreaded day of disappointment when i do not become a fighter pilot. But at the same time, there was a small part of me who did not mind being a pilot of other platform if it was really God's will not for me to be a fighter pilot. Daily, I earnestly prayed and committed this matter unto God and it was to be that as the days went by, and as God guided me through each phase, from the medical check ups, to my selection phase and up to my current course here, the desire to be a fighter pilot grew. I believe that even as I daily commit this matter unto God and acknowledge Him in my ways, He has directed my paths and even placed in me this growing desire to be a fighter pilot.

People did tell me that because of my age, it is not in my favour to be in the fighters. Learning rate for me would be slower than the younger ones and the many possible considerations that the organisation has in selecting and sending people for fighter training is not in my favour. And besides, I did not have perfect eyesight and have slight sinus problems. But the Lord has mightily and graciously overcame the odds for me. He has granted me extra discipline and strength, which I've never had in my many years of academics, to study and prepare for sorties. He has sustained and kept me in good health during my course of stay here. I have not fallen ill once so far and it is solely by the sustainance and mercies of God. He has granted me clear, unblocked nose to fly daily, grace to fly reasonbly well and learn fairly fast. How Marvellous God is!

And as if all that is mentioned is not enough to show that it is the mighty arm of God that has brought me through thus far, my course starts diminishing in number. From past statistics, generally the top 1/3 will usually be selected and sent to fighters. As mentioned in the previous post, it would statistically not be in my favour if the number in my course were to reduce. It would only mean that there would be lesser fighter slots. As the streaming day for my course drew nearer, there were rumours going around that for our course of 8, there would only probably be 2-3 fighter slots at most. I am ashamed to say but my heart sank and there were moments when I did waiver in faith and wonder whether it is God's will for me to actually go to the fighters. But these moments did not last long for I was quickly snapped back into the correct perspective of how small these matters are compared to who God is. I have never pleaded to the Lord so earnestly before in my life.

And to the glory of God, I am selected for fighter training. And not only that but am also selected to be a reserve for an overseas fighter course. I did pray and ask God that if it His will not for me to go for this overseas course, that he would not put me in the reserve. But now that I have been selected to be in the reserve, I have this feeling and confidence that God has a plan for me. Whatever it is, the Lord's will be done!

The Lord has indeed been faithful and gracious to my family and me and there are so many more things that I can thank and praise Him for but I shall leave that for another time or face to face sharing.

All Glory to the Lord of Hosts!

Why?

Why do I want so much to be a fighter pilot? Ask me when I get back =)

Why I need to be a fighter pilot?

1. That the faith of my friends and family will be strengthened.

I’m not sure if its us Asians or us, the more conservative Christians who have pessimism in our blood but I can’t help but notice that when one encourages another, I often hear the phrase “Even if the Lord doesn’t bring to pass what you’ve praying for, He has a purpose and His ways are not our ways.” being spoken or something along that line. I’m not saying that it is wrong or false. It is definitely true and it definitely puts the situation in perspective and balance, and prepares the person to accept the will of God, which in this case would be the undesired outcome. Even I’m guilty of this kind of encouragement. I’m not saying that we omit it totally but let’s not be too hasty to give this kind of encouragement.

Personally, having received this kind of encouragement often, instead of being encouraged, I am oft times discouraged. It is no doubt that this is a good reminder that whatever comes, I must accept it for it is the perfect will of God. However, I’m discouraged because I get the sentiment and feel that the person does not dare to commit to saying or believing that God is able and will bring it to pass. It just gives me the feeling that in our mind’s eye, the God that we believe in is rather less able and powerful than the powerful, almighty God who divided the red sea, brought down fire from heaven and created the heavens and the earth whom we learn and read about in the Bible. Or maybe in our mind’s eye, the God we believe in is less willing to do great and mighty works these days as compared to the days of old. It doesn’t help especially when the person being encouraged is already in a difficult situation. It’s sort of as good as saying to him “give it up lah.” I am not accusing or being judgmental but rather, I’m speaking for myself. I am guilty of this. That’s the reason that comes up when I really search deep down why I give those “kinds” of encouragement sometimes. It’s very often that we tend to belittle God in difficult circumstances and so quickly waiver in our faith in God.

Before we give such an encouragement, let us take that opportunity to reflect and search ourselves for the real reason why we are giving it. Is it because of the reason, which is written in the previous paragraph or is it because we want to truly remind, bring perspective and balance to the circumstance and encourage that brethren that regardless, God is sovereign. I pray that our reason would be the latter.

I would like to urge everyone not to be so quick in giving this “kind” of encouragement but rather give more “positive” encouragements first. An e.g. would be “lean not unto thy understanding but in all thy ways commit it unto the Lord and He will grant you the desires of your heart.” And encouragements must definitely be according to the word of God.

I hope and pray that through this event, the faith of my family and friends would be strenghtened and that we'll all be reminded that the God we believe in is the same almighty God of Moses and Elijah; the same God who brought the universe into existence.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” - Jer 33:3

2. That my friend(s) might not mock the faith that I have in the God of this universe and really see the glory of the Lord through this.

I’ve often told my friend(s) that if the Lord wills, regardless of the situation, I will go to the fighters and it’s not that my friend has outwardly mocked that faith that I have but with my interactions with him, I get the feeling that he would, if I do not go to the fighters.

That my friends might see how the Lord has overcame for me the many odds and uncertainties that were in my path simply because of the simple faith I have in the true and living God. So that my friends would see how real the God I believe in is.

“That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” - Psa 83:18

3. That I might declare to the people around me the wondrous works, abundant grace, mighty sovereign hands of God. In essence, that the glory of God may be shown and declared.

As mentioned in my blog sometime ago, the odds and uncertainties that are in my way are many. Just to mention two, my age and eyesight is not in my favour for fighters.

And even as I train here, some more odds and uncertainties have surfaced. Just to mention a few, I’m not one of those who are born, natural flyers. I did have a fair share of tough and rough patch in my training. But the grace and strength of God has been sufficient and has brought me thus far.

And even as my course has reduced from 18 to a small number of 9, I would expect the slots for fighters to reduce. If I was 4th in the course of 18 or even 16, statistically speaking, my chances of qualifying for fighters is higher than when I’m 4th in a course of 9. If God intended for me to go to fighters, the latter would be a better way. Why do I say that? It is because it would more clearly and convincingly show that it is God’s sovereign mighty hand alone that has guided me and brought me to the fighters. If it was the former i.e. 4th in a course of 16, people can attribute it to my hard work and making it there by my own effort. But if it was the latter, i.e. 4th in a course of 9, statistically speaking, it is already to my disadvantage, and so it would convincingly show that God alone is the one who got me to the fighters by His mighty hands. God’s name would be glorified.

“Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.” - 1Ch 16:24

4. That my faith may be strengthened.

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety [deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory] is of the LORD.” - Pro 21:31

“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.” - Psa 44:6 - 7

... And yet not my will but Yours be done.

Prayer of Faith

The heavens declare the glory of God…

Comet Mcnaught is the first comet I’ve ever seen in my life. It was bright and visible and a really beautiful sight here down under. The night sky here is really beautiful with all the hosts of heaven shining and shimmering like jewels. A pity I do not have much time to spend my nights out under the wonderful heavens. Just an hour or so out under God’s handiwork was all that was needed to put me in the correct perspective and be still and know that God, He is God.

As I train here and pray daily and earnestly committing this dream of being a fighter pilot unto God, I still sometimes wonder if it is God’s will for me to be in the fighters. No doubt that I’m absolutely confident and sure that God is able to bring it to pass for what is this as compared to the heavens and earth that He has created from naught. Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consists.” - Col 1:16-17

But are my prayers, prayers of little faith? What is a prayer of faith? I’ve often pondered over this. Is it just praying and believing that God is able to bring it to pass? Or is it praying and believing that God is able and will bring it to pass? So what exactly is a prayer of faith? What attitude of prayer should I be adopting? An attitude of prayer that has absolute confidence that God will bring it to pass? Or an attitude of prayer that has absolute confidence that God is able to bring it to pass if it’s according to His will? To be honest I do not have a sure answer, but this is what I’ve found after reading God’s word and some after thought.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” – Heb 11:1 (KJV)

“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” – Heb 11:1 (GNB)

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” – Matt 21:22

The verses above explain quite clearly what faith is. So in application, my hope is to be a fighter pilot. So having faith is to be assured and sure of this hope and to be certain that I’ll be a fighter pilot, which is something that is still not yet seen. The second verse in application would be that if I ask in prayer, believing that God bring to pass this dream, I’ll receive it. So all I have to do is pray and believe that God will bring it to pass and it is considered done. Is this right? Not quite I think.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” – Jam 4:3

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” – 1 Thess 4:3a

The first two verses must be read in context with the above verses and other verses in the bible that tells us about the will of God. If the motives for my prayer to be a fighter pilot are wrong, God would not bring it to pass. If I’m not asking according to the will of God, it would definitely not come to pass. Would being a fighter pilot make me more Christ-like or less? Does God have a purpose for me to be in the fighters? There are countless other questions that can be asked concerning whether this prayer of mine is according to the will of God but the above are just a few examples.

So what is a prayer of faith? – Is it just praying, believing that God is able to bring it to pass or is it praying, believing that God is able and will bring it to pass? I’m convinced that the answer is both. If God has unveiled His will so clearly to you, a prayer of faith would be the latter. But if you are still unclear and unsure of whether what you’ve asked for is God’s will, then a prayer of faith would be the former.

As for me, I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sure that it is God’s will for me to be a fighter pilot, but I’m quite confident that God will bring it to pass. As I ask God to daily show and unveil His will to me, my prayer of faith is slowly “evolving” from believing that God is able to bring it to pass to God is able and will bring it to pass. So how does God unveil His will? For me, it is through daily situations and circumstances, through His word and the reflection of God’s guidance and goodness in my life in time past. To each, if God intends His will to be made known, it would be clear beyond a shadow of a doubt.

My last thoughts… If any of us is unsure of what God’s will is for us concerning a certain matter. Let us not stop at just praying, believing that God is able to bring it to pass, but continue in prayer, asking God to guide us each step of the way and show to us His will concerning the matter that we’re praying for. And of course, even before we can pray a prayer of faith, we must first be still and know that God, He is God; The Creator of the universe, who is clothe in majesty; The only true and living God. And nothing is too hard for the Lord.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Heb 11:6

All Glory to The Lord Most High!